The Warmth of Motherhood
Carmel frowned and said, "A reason? What nonsense are you talking about? You did that to yourself—"
It seemed Carmel was already convinced I had staged the entire incident to cause a scene. That wasn't true. Though, what I was about to say wasn't the truth either.
"Did I say that? No, there is a very clear reason why I ended up like this, Mother."
Carmel, who had been on the verge of storming out, turned back to face me. Hands on her hips, she maintained her haughty posture—for now. "So? Why are you bringing this up now?"
"Before I tell you, there is something I would like to hear from you first. I asked you once before, Mother, but what exactly is inside that locked box?"
I raised my arm and pointed toward a box resting in the corner of the room. The very box sealed with the language of the northern tribes, from which an ominous black mana seeped.
"...What does that have to do with this?"
"It has everything to do with it. My sudden illness only occurred after I touched that box."
Carmel's face stiffened. She tried to compose herself quickly, but the slip was obvious. As expected, whatever lay inside was far from ordinary. A mere leak of its sealed mana was enough to cause physical illness. In all likelihood, it was an abominable cursed object. Carmel's expression practically confirmed my suspicion. Watching her struggle for words, I continued.
"It seems you cannot answer. Fufu, then may I assume, as I suspected, that the item inside is something that should never have been brought into the royal palace?"
"That is absurd speculation! There is nothing inside but my personal belongings. Yes, that is why I locked it!"
"Hmm, is that so? If you say so, Mother, then it must be true. However, it is also an undeniable fact that my health deteriorated after coming into contact with that box. I kept quiet during the earlier examination to avoid causing trouble for you, but I will certainly have to disclose the cause during my next checkup."
"...Ugh..."
The consequences were as clear as day. The moment I claimed that box was the source of my illness, the royal family would have no choice but to investigate its contents. The disguise of stacking it carelessly among identical boxes, the seal of the secret taboo language—all of it would be meaningless if the royal court resolved to pry it open. And if its contents were exposed to the world... the fallout would depend entirely on what was hidden inside. Carmel, its owner, undoubtedly knew the gravity of that outcome better than anyone.
"You..."
Carmel clenched her fists. Behind her trembling eyes, her mind was racing, desperately weighing her options. She was likely wondering if I had truly been harmed by touching the box, and just how much I knew about its contents. But the moment I played this card, the truth of my illness no longer mattered. My ability to perceive that faint black mana was her undoing. Once I pointed to the box, there was no way to avoid opening it. Frankly, bringing such a forbidden item into the palace was her first mistake. From her perspective, it was probably meant to be a hidden trump card.
"Come to think of it, Mother. You said something quite amusing earlier. Fufu, did you not say you would tear down everything I have?"
Those ruthless words Carmel had muttered to herself like a solemn vow—the only reason I could listen to them with a joyful smile was because I had been waiting for this exact moment.
"T-that..."
"Well, it is good to have grand dreams. But if that is your intention, Mother, then I see no reason to hold back either, fufut."
Carmel's throat seemed to run dry. Just moments ago, when I was lying helplessly in bed, letting her feed me, she could never have anticipated this turn of events. Perhaps because she had tasted a brief moment of superiority over me, she found it difficult to process this sudden shift in power. To be fair, I had my own uncertainties before making this move. I didn't know exactly what was inside that box. But Carmel's sheer panic provided the final piece of the puzzle. It was undoubtedly something powerful enough to strip her of her title as Queen. There was no escape. After a long, agonizing silence, Carmel seemed to accept her fate. She realized the only way to keep the box sealed was to secure my silence.
"...What... do you want?"
The fact that I hadn't immediately informed Reynard made it obvious that I wanted to strike a "deal" with her. Having engaged in numerous "deals" with me before, Carmel seemed to anticipate what kind of demand I would make. A flush of a completely different nature than when Shinia burst in began to creep up her face. Relishing her reaction, I offered her a bright smile.
"I will be generous and offer you a choice this time, Mother. First, option one: hand over all records of your ongoing negotiations with the Lorencia family. Every single document, every recording crystal—all of it. A woman of your thoroughness must have kept them, yes?"
Since their discussions were likely in the early stages, there might not be anything immediately fatal in those records. However, having them would give me a powerful lever to keep both Carmel and the Lorencia family in check.
"Hand all of that over...? You are asking me to hand you my lifeline!"
My, they've been plotting treason far earlier than I thought. If so, this deal was merely a matter of Carmel swapping one vulnerability for another. It was typical of her to completely disregard the Lorencia family's position in this.
"If you cannot do that, Mother, then I suppose it cannot be helped. That brings us to option two... Ah, now that I think about it, this option actually has two parts. Would that be alright?"
"...Just spit it out."
Though her tone remained defiant, her anxiety over what I might demand was palpable. I deliberately kept my voice light and cheerful.
"First, there is this: as long as you and I share this room, you are forbidden from wearing underwear, except when you go outside. Naturally, this includes when we share the same bed."
"...What...?"
"You can make up a suitable excuse for the maids. Tell them it is a folk remedy to invite good fortune, or something of the sort. Even if it sounds a bit unnatural, I will back you up."
Carmel stared at me with utter disgust, as if she had just heard the most absurd thing in her life. Yet, she knew better than anyone that I was entirely serious. Just as I had always been.
"This is not such a difficult request, is it? It is not as if I am asking you to walk around completely naked. It is merely going without underwear."
"Sera, you... you are truly..."
Though she tried to resist, Carmel's voice grew weaker. It was only natural. It was presented as a choice, but it was no choice at all. Furthermore, this was different in nature from what we had done before. In terms of sheer intensity, it was technically tamer than when she first bared her breasts to me. However, in terms of duration and symbolism, this ban on underwear would be devastatingly effective. Even in the place where she should feel safest, she would remain constantly exposed to my dark, lingering gaze. Every single night, she would have to lie in the same bed as me, completely bare beneath her gown. As long as she remained in this room, she would be forced to remember at every moment that her body was the object of my depraved desires. Still, on its own, this was too weak to balance out the first option. To make it a fair trade, it needed a fitting addition.
"And in addition to that, one more thing. Well... I should probably explain first. It is rather embarrassing to confess this to you, Mother, but I have always been somewhat starved of maternal affection."
"...Maternal affection?"
Motherhood. A word that should have evoked the utmost warmth, yet Carmel shuddered as if struck by a sudden chill. Even so, she could never have guessed what I was about to say next.
"Yes. I grew up without ever knowing a mother's warmth. I have only heard stories of that feeling—the sensation of one's heart overflowing with tenderness, of feeling truly permitted to exist in this world."
That was true for both Princess Sera and myself. In the original novel, Princess Sera's mother died the moment she was born, and in my previous life, I had grown up in an orphanage. Carmel listened to my story with a face that showed absolute indifference. I maintained my gentle smile and continued.
"The second part of our deal is exactly that. I want to experience motherhood through you. To be precise, I want to suckle at your breasts. Held in your arms, just like an infant."
"Ha...?"
She had heard me clearly, yet Carmel seemed unable to process the meaning of my words. Or perhaps a part of her mind simply refused to comprehend it. But the realization soon set in. Her face twisted in sheer horror, as if she had just heard the most abominable thing in the world.
"Are you... are you serious...? Such a... such a thing... Like nursing a baby...? You want me to do that...? Me...? With you?"
Ah, so she understood perfectly. There was no need to explain it twice.
"Yes, that is correct, Mother. Since Shinia practically fled the room, no other maid will dare come near for a while. Wouldn't now be the perfect time? Though, of course, taking our time late at night would be lovely as well."
Carmel stared at me in absolute horror as I spoke with complete nonchalance, as if discussing nothing more than a light stroll.
"You are... completely, utterly insane...!"
"But is this not an act that every mother and daughter inevitably share? It is hardly something vulgar..."
"The very fact that you can say that proves you are mad!"
My, how sensible of her. It was rather ironic to hear a villainess bent on ruining the kingdom preach about common sense.
"In any case, those are the only options I am offering you. Now, Mother. Option one or option two. Which will you choose?" I asked Carmel, who was still trembling, unable to break free from her shock.